Murder Conviction For Northern NY Man In 5-Year-Old Case

MASSENA, N.Y. (AP) — A jury has found a northern New York man guilty of killing a 25-year-old woman whose decomposed body was found in woods nearly five years ago.

When 47-year-old Christopher Hebert of Massena is sentenced on May 6, he will face a maximum prison term of 25 years to life. On Thursday, a St. Lawrence County jury found him guilty of killing Lacey Yekel of Massena. Her body was found in August 2014 near an industrial park.

WWNY-TV reports Hebert told the jury he lied when he told friends he beat and strangled Yekel in June 2014. He said she really died of an overdose and he dumped her body.

The jury heard recordings of Hebert describing the murder to his ex-girlfriend who visited him in prison wearing a wire.